Ireland's future is in Europe

It is amazing the effect that dropping a couple of points in the opinion polls has, especially with a general election due in the next two months.

Take Sinn Fein, for example. They drop four or so points in some polls, effectively halving their vote, and understandably enough, go into paroxysms of panic.

The advance Sinn Fein predicted in private, but talked down in public, seems to be evaporating. According to these polls, the best they can hope for is to take three or so seats, as they did in the 1950s and again in the early 1980s, albeit with absenteeism. Not so much a breakthrough as a cycle.

This might explain their rhetorical outbursts over the Easter weekend. They harangued the Republic's mainstream political parties, particularly my own Fianna Fáil, for failing 'to genuinely embrace the concept of unity' and for not preparing a White or a Green Paper on Irish unity.

Might I bring to their attention, for example, the New Ireland Forum which published its final report back in May 1984? Perhaps it slipped their mind as they may have been otherwise engaged back then.

Similarly, the forum for Peace and Reconciliation, which sat some years ago, issued a report. These cross-party bodies looked at all aspects of the problems facing our island and sought the opinions of both communities.

The New Ireland Forum set out the shape and benefits of three options:

1. A unitary state;

2. Federal/confederal;

3. Joint authority.

Perhaps, to jog Sinn Fein's memory, I should remind them that Baroness Thatcher greeted the report with the phrase: 'That's out, that's out and that's out.'

Anyway, as An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern pointed out some time ago, our priority must be the bedding down and progress of the institutions established by the Good Friday/Belfast agreement. Talk of unity with 10 years does nothing more than to inflame unfounded Unionist/loyalist fears.

The irony is that while Sinn Fein eulogise about unity at home, they oppose tooth and nail the breaking down of borders across Europe. Here in the Republic, they are the great Eurosceptics. Like the Tories, they are trenchant opponents of the Nice treaty and the introduction of the euro. They oppose greater co-operation across borders in favour of isolationism. The Tories' 'little Englander' and Sinn Fein's 'ethnocentric nationalism' are two sides of the same anti-European coin.

Personally, I cannot wait to see them canvassing side by side when Britain has its referendum on joining the euro. Doubtless, Sinn Fein recognise the potential incongruity of them canvassing within the six counties to keep sterling. Maybe to get themselves off this hook they could suggest the creation of a new currency for the North and call it the punt.

How typical of Sinn Fein to oppose the European dynamic that encourages greater co-operation between peoples and states, yet to proclaim unashamedly themselves the only true believers in unity at home.

If speaking out of both sides of your mouth at the same time were a modern art form, they would be on permanent exhibition at the Tate. Sadly, it is not the only issue where they exhibit that trait, but I shall not go into the subject of vigilantism here.

As my own boss, Minister of State Willie O'Dea, said in an article a few months ago, the two true republican parties on this island, Fianna Fáil and the SDLP, have fulfilled their function of chaperoning Sinn Fein into the political arena. Now the normal rules of political engagement apply. No more holding our tongues when their actions are less than we expect or when they come out spouting inflammatory drivel.

Sinn Fein may dismiss public criticism of themselves as the fear of the political establishment that they might make inroads. It might suit their purposes to regard themselves as the victims. Alas, the truth is that they bring it on themselves.

The next time Sinn Fein invoke the memory of the leaders of the 1916 rebellion and Ireland's fight for freedom, they might just consider how those leaders would have been proud to see the people of Ireland not only deciding their own future, but also playing a strong and leading role in shaping the Europe of the future.

Once our aspiration was only for self-determination on this island. Now we can determine the future of Europe. Perhaps, just perhaps, Sinn Fein might consider that the next time they turn their back on the emerging countries of Eastern Europe.

· Derek Mooney is a former Fianna Fáil candidate and political adviser. He is campaign manager for Minister of State, Willie O'Dea, TD, for the forthcoming general election.